New at FFP: Thousands of immigrants got the same email: “It is time for you to leave.” The order to self-deport caused confusion in meatpacking plants and factories throughout the state. Read more 🔗 buff.ly/56BXP1c

Fewer than 95,000 Omahans voted in the city elections this week. That's the lowest turnout in any general election since 2013 when Jean Stothert won her first mayoral race. Ewing and Stothert are both in favor of axing low-turnout off-cycle elections. flatwaterfreepress.org/as-omaha-linco…

It was great to partner with Jeremy Turley 🦃 on this project and write about Nebraska special education again! Students with disabilities were denied option enrollment at high rates in 2023-24 — and in 40 districts, only special ed kids were rejected: the74million.org/article/despit…

Nebraska school districts reject transfer applications from students with IEPs at massively disproportionate rates despite a state law that bars them from considering disabilities in their admission standards. Reported w/ Lauren Wagner of The 74. flatwaterfreepress.org/shot-down-at-e…

New at FFP: Jacque Palczynski begged to get her son out of jail. He was paranoid, wasn’t taking his medication and needed to be in a hospital. She filled out a form to request a commitment, sent it to Douglas County and then never heard back. 🔗 buff.ly/4e1TfiT

Video from the scene outside Glenn Valley, where some protesters and family members of those detained are now clashing with authorities. Warning: Obscenities are audible. Read our story about widespread South Omaha immigration raids: buff.ly/5nChMLF

Extremely tense interactions between protesters and federal agents after an ICE raid at an Omaha meatpacking plant.

Our story on this morning’s ICE raid at an Omaha meatpacking plant.

Between 75 and 80 workers at an Omaha meatpacking plant were detained in an ICE raid on Tuesday, officials said. The raid sparked confusion, anger and fear throughout Nebraska. 🔗 buff.ly/5nChMLF

Omaha Steaks spokeswoman Kathleen Al-Marhoon says rumors (below) of an attempted ICE raid circulating online today are false. "I can confirm no raid or such activities are happening at Omaha Steaks. Some rumors and false information are being created and shared on social media."

NYT: ICE is pausing work site enforcement investigations in some sectors (incl. agriculture, and meatpacking) and instructing agents not to arrest “non-criminals” — just days after 76 workers were detained at a meatpacking plant raid in Nebraska

More than 60 detainees of the Omaha ICE raid are being held at Lincoln County Jail in North Platte, NE, per ICE statement. Three voluntarily returned to Mexico. Three Guatemalan nationals were transferred to Louisiana.

Nebraska Public Power District is using eminent domain to build a transmission line in rural Stanton County that will feed one giant customer's appetite for electricity: a crypto mining company. Landowners aren't happy. flatwaterfreepress.org/a-nebraska-cry…

Greg Toppo Kara Arundel Ruth Serven Smith Erica Breunlin ☀️ The Grade Featuring shout-outs for SPED stories by the Flatwater Free Press's Jeremy Turley 🦃, The 74's Lauren Wagner, and the The Boston Globe's Mandy McLaren. Full panel recording: youtube.com/watch?v=48Dj2t…

A crypto mining company is already Stanton County’s biggest energy user. Now, the Nebraska Public Power District is taking slivers of farmland by eminent domain to build a new transmission line that will deliver triple the power to the crypto miners. 🔗 buff.ly/UyLQKXw

The Sarpy County Board of Commissioners wanted him fired. His boss, the county attorney, refused. Seven months later, a top prosecutor accused of misconduct is being paid not to work as a legal fight continues, costing taxpayers at least $300,000. 🔗 buff.ly/Ai8phOO